Wall Color Ideas for a Blue and White Bedroom

Teal and tan jazz up a blue and white room without straying too far outside the palette.

A blue and white bedroom can appear cold, childish or dated without a third or even fourth color to rev it up or tone it down, depending on your style intention. One of the most effective ways to inject a burst of style into a color-challenged bedroom is through the wall color, whether it's paint or wallpaper.

Wish List Wallpaper

Whatever your design desires, the right wallpaper can be the bedroom's starting point. Contemplate hanging mid- or light-blue-and-white wallpaper to offset dark-blue-and-white linen and accessories. The bigger and bolder the wallpaper pattern, the more modern it appears. Choose blue and white wallpaper that includes a third hue to become the room's accent color -- green for a beach theme or red for a nautical scheme, for example. No matter what color paper you choose, replicate its pattern -- swirls, leaves, stripes or geometric shapes -- once or twice in the room, such as in the art, a lamp base or a chandelier, for visually consistency.

Color Punch

Orange is blue's complementary color; by pairing color opposites, you create a balanced and interesting bedroom. Orange walls keep a blue and white space from seeming too sleepy or stark, but choose this energizing shade carefully. Warm orange or coral is visually quieter than bright orange and sort of the grownup version of pink. If pink is your preference, choose a dusty hue rather than something that resembles antacids, candy or baby blankets -- unless you're decorating a child's room. A few blue-and-white wallpaper stripes behind the bed break up the wall color and form the idea of a headboard.

Light and Airy

A light blue or gray blue and pure-white bedroom can seem glaringly cold. Take the space from stark to airy with creamy white walls. Yellowy white is like a buttery and blissful mediator between blue and white. Infuse the space with cream-colored accents, including lush draperies, velvet throw cushions and a shag area rug for even more toasty softness.

Dark and Dreamy

Brown walls highlight blue or white bedding and window treatments, but they also wrap the room with cocoon-like comfort, taking the visual chill from the cool tones. Upsurge the warmth offered by brown walls by incorporating a reclaimed-wood focal wall behind the bed. The wall acts as a textural headboard; dress it with blue-and-white artwork or a mirror to reflect the room's cool hues for balance.

About the Author

Lorna Hordos has owned a home-flipping business for more than two decades. She uses her construction and interior design experience to write friendly, conversational home and lifestyle articles for Daltile, Marazzi, Lowes and numerous other publications. She also enjoys writing for children, and has been featured on the cover of Humpty Dumpty magazine.